Kerala Chief Minister Pinayari Vijayan has launched 26 new tourism projects across the state  in a bid to boost the crisis-hit tourism sector. Pinayari Vijayan on Thursday said the tourism sector in the state has suffered an estimated loss of around Rs 25,000 crore because of  the COVID-19 pandemic.  He said the pandemic arrived at a time when the tourism sector in the state was thriving after overcoming several crises.  “Once our state, the country and the world survive COVID-19, Kerala will once again become a tourist paradise,” Pinayari said while inaugurating the projects in fourteen districts through video conference. He said the state government is implementing adequate projects to boost the tourism sector.

“The tourism sector was estimated to have lost Rs 25,000 crore due to the COVID-19 crisis, which had also resulted in huge job losses,” he said. The projects, a state government release said, are spread from the hilltop tourist centre Ponmudi in Thiruvananthapuram to the northernmost district Kasaragod. The completed infrastructure development project in Ponmudi has provided playgrounds, landscaping and seating for children.

The chief minister also inaugurated Malamel Para Tourism Project at Kollam Beach and Thanni Beach. A release issued by the state tourism department said the inauguration of a Rs 49 lakh beautification project of the Mooloor Memorial at Elavumthitta in Pathanamthitta district, home of the multi-talented poet Mooloor S Padmanabha Panicker, was also held. The Chief Minister also inaugurated the Parassinikkadavu Boat Terminal and the Pazhayangadi Boat Terminal, part of the Malnad-Malabar River Cruise Tourism.

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